Coburg: Townhouse in Pentridge precinct, featuring its own guards’ watchtower, sells at auction

A townhouse within the former Pentridge Prison’s Woollen Mill, featuring its very own guards’ watchtower and an underground cellar, has proved popular at an auction today.

1 Sentry Lane, Coburg, dates back to the 1870s when it was part of the Pentridge Prison complex.

A first-home buyer is the proud new owner of a slice of Melbourne’s history, following a Coburg auction on Saturday.

The buyer purchased a two-bedroom townhouse at1 Sentry Lane that’s part of the former Pentridge Prison’s Woollen Mill conversion.

Heritage documents state that the mill, along with a timber yard, carpenters’ workshops and blacksmiths’ areas, was built in the 1870s.

RELATED: ‘Bit of a vibe’: Melb family riding the $1m+ wave north in Coburg North

Charming Coburg period home sells for $1.28m amid fierce bidding

Auctions: Coburg villa sells for more than $50,000 above its reserve price under the hammer

Prisoners worked in the mill while serving out their sentences.

After Pentridge closed in 1997, the entire prison site was converted into a residential, retail and commercial precinct.

Jellis Craig Northern’s Yash Akpinar said more than 150 groups inspected the townhouse prior to the auction.

“I think what stood out is how unique the property is,” Mr Akpinar said.

“What I said during the auction was, ‘You’re buying a piece of history.”

Exposed brick gives the townhouse an industrial feel.

Pentridge Prison, Coburg, prior to its closure in 1997.

One of the townhouse’s courtyards.

One of the home’s two courtyards even has a separate guards’ watchtower that is now used for storage.

Mr Akpinar said the townhouse’s industrial look including timber floors, sealed sash windows and exposed brickwork was another feature that stood out to buyers.

The kitchen is fitted with stone bench tops, stainless-steel appliances, a dishwasher, island bench and soft-close cabinetry.

A walk-in wardrobe, built-in workstation and concealed wall storage form part of the main bedroom.

The property also has a powder room, car space, European laundry and an in-ground cellar.

A waterfall-style island bench takes centre stage in the kitchen.

There’s a bathroom and a powder room.

Mr Akpinar said four bidders contested the auction.

“There was strong bidding out of the gates, the auction kicked off with a $670,000 bid,” he said.

“It ended up selling for $751,000.”

He said most of the interested buyers were looking for their first home.

Pentridge Prison was established in 1851 and the Victorian government sold it to developers in 1999.

Some of the prisoner’s most infamous inmates included bushranger Ned Kelly and gangland identity Mark ‘Chopper’ Read.

---

Sign up to the Herald Sun Weekly Real Estate Update. Click here to get the latest Victorian property market news delivered direct to your inbox.

MORE: Couple buy their first home in Melbourne while holidaying 3100km away in WA

$30m Canterbury home could break suburb’s lofty residential price record

Brighton: Designer Kirsty Ristevski’s home hits the market for $7m

Originally published as Coburg: Townhouse in Pentridge precinct, featuring its own guards’ watchtower, sells at auction